LAMAR — The Lamar Warriors came within inches of knocking off the No. 5 team in the Associated Press Arkansas High School Football Poll Friday as they fell to the Barton Bears 26-24 in the first round of the Class 3A playoffs.

Warriors quarterback Braxton Sampley hit Hunter Cowell on an 8-yard touchdown pass with 6.5 seconds remaining to close the gap to two, but Jalen Chenault was stopped short of the goal line on the two-point conversion try.

After a defensive stand by the Warriors (9-2, 7-1 3A-4) following a drive by the Bears to the Lamar 9 to begin the game, the Warriors were forced to punt after a three-and-out. The punt traveled only 13 yards giving the Bears great field position at the Lamar 17.

The Bears (9-2, 5-2 3A-2) took five plays to score as Laquarius Hall hit Chajobie Fulcher on an 11-yard pass to cap off the drive. Barton was successful on its first point-after attempt of the game, which gave them a 7-0 lead with 4:22 left in the first quarter.

After a nice return by Chenault to the Barton 46, Sampley connected with Ryan Jones for a touchdown on the first play of the drive. Dillinger Choate was wide right on his PAT, which left the Warriors trailing 7-6 with 4:05 left in the opening quarter.

The Warriors proceeded to recover the ensuing onside kick, but they turned the ball over on downs as Sampley’s pass fell incomplete at the Bears 38.

On the next play from scrimmage, Hall hit Justice Cole on a 62-yard pass for a touchdown. The Bears were unable to convert on a two-point conversion try, which left the score at 13-6 with 1:15 remaining in the first quarter.

Following a late-hit penalty on the Bears on the kickoff return, the Warriors had good field position at the Bears 37. Lamar put together a four-play, 37-yard drive for a touchdown. Sampley found Austin Hency on a 25-yard pass on third-and-10 to pull the Warriors within 13-12 with 23 seconds left in the first quarter.

The Bears did not take long to answer as they drove 49 yards in four plays for the score. Hall connected with Fulcher on a 29-yard touchdown pass to extend the Bears lead to 20-12 with 11:00 left in the second quarter.

Each team turned the ball over on downs and the Bears missed a field goal leaving the score at 20-12 heading into the half.

The Warriors closed the gap to two points with a seven-play, 56-yard drive for a touchdown. Sampley hit Seth Campbell on an 18-yard pass on fourth-and-4 to cut the Bears lead to 20-18 with 11:54 left in the fourth quarter. Logan Yarbrough came very close to converting the two-point conversion, but he was stopped short leaving the Warriors behind by two.

The Bears extended their lead to eight on an 11-yard rush by Fulcher around the left side, but the Warriors blocked the PAT leaving it a one-possession game at 26-18 with 1:14 left in the fourth quarter.

After an unbelievable kickoff return by Chenault that ended at the Bears 40, the Warriors made one final attempt at extending their season.

Facing fourth-and-3 from the Barton 33, Yarbrough rushed up the middle for 12 yards keeping Lamar alive. The Warriors then faced third-and-5 from the Bears 16, and after an incomplete pass a pass- interference penalty put the ball within the 10.

Two plays later, Sampley hit Cowell on an 8-yard pass for a touchdown with 6.5 seconds left. The Warriors called timeout before attempting the game-tying two-point conversion try.

On the attempt, Sampley connected with Chenault at the 1, but he was hit by two Bears and was stopped just short of the goal line leaving the score at 26-24.

The Warriors had one more chance after recovering the onside kick, but Sampley’s pass was picked off by Garrett Smart to end the game.

The Warriors were led on offense by Sampley, who finished the evening completing 21-of-47 passes for 257 yards and four touchdowns. Sampley also rushed eight times for 33 yards. Yarbrough tallied two yards rushing on seven carries. Jones finished the evening with 10 receptions for 135 yards receiving and one touchdown.

The Bears were led offensively by Hall, who went 5-for-16 for 146 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing six times for 59 yards. Fulcher had nine carries for 80 yards while Chandler had 13 carries for 67 yards.

Warriors coach Josh Jones was proud of his team’s effort in its season-ending loss.

“The desire and effort they gave tonight was awesome. They got knocked down several times but always got back up,” Jones said.

Jones also thanked his seniors for their accomplishments and effort.

“We had a very talented bunch of kids who never gave up. They made play after play after play, and when things were bad, one would step up. I cannot say enough about them,” Jones said.

The Bears will advance to the second round of the Class 3A playoffs and travel to northern Arkansas to face the Hoxie Mustangs. Meanwhile, the Warriors’ season comes to a close. Kickoff from Hoxie will be at 7 p.m.